The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-10-13
GENUINE DEMOCRATS.
Why Republican TricksterS and ONCE
Grabbers Hate Honest Voters.

Why Republican Tricksters and Once
! Grabbers Hate Honest Voters.
Missouri Democrats are not likely to
+ trouble themselves to be offended at the
charges of "Bourbonism" preferred
against them by Republican organ
printed in this city. They do not hold
it the fault of cur that he is currish.
and when he snarls at his betters il
need not provoke them beyond smile.
If there ever was any reproach in
''Bourbonism," the application of the
| epithet to such honest and sturdy Dem
Ocrats as those of this State has re-
moved it and made it a title of honor.
Missouri is full of Bourbon Democrats.
They have made it a great State; filled
it with school-houses and churches;
driven out ignorance; checked intoler-
ance; subdued Republicanism.
One characteristic of The Democrat
is his ability not to steal himself rich
when he has the opportunity. This
brings him into great contempt with
Republicans who expect to steal, who
have already stolen, or who are enjoy
ing the usufruct of the theft of others.
In the days of the French monarchy,
when breaking the Decalogue was a
necessity of fashion, there was
yet one reservation, there re-
manned yet one crime, unpardOn-
able in the eyes of men. 1t was
said then that "a gentleman never
steals" But Stalwart Republicanism
has changed all that. The pudgy fin
gers of the Stalwart which have
clutched money won ut the expense of
felon's stripes, WELD a pen which
glorifies the successful thief and makes
honesty a mark of weak mindedness.
There have been Stalwart Republicans
not few in Missouri, and the State is
unfortunately not yet free from them,
though several left it after serving
their sentences. The belief that it is
mark of superior intelligence to steal
from the Government has always been
Que of the Stalwart's most prominent
characteristics, but as he has not
always been able to show himself SUI
perior to the logged Bourbonism
which insists that thieves must be pun
ished. it is natural that he should not
only despise the Bourbon. but hate him
heartily. This hate and contempt is
shared by the two great classes of
Stalwarts-those who have stolen al
ready and those who expect to steal
when they get the opportunity. In the
city Stalwart, who has embraced his
opportunities, it makes itself apparent
in labOred sneers. Among the zone
gallused" Stalwarts of the swamps and
hills, who have only such poor oppor-
tunity as is afforded by the chance to
squat on land which does not be-
long to them, it shows itself in Bald
knob leagues which assault Bourbonism
with buckshot. Nevertheless, Bourbon
Democracy holds the State, and the
State thrives as the doors of the peni-
Tertiary close ON one Stalwart after
another.
Though forced to maintain a peni-
Tertiary for knaves, the Bourbon Dem
ocrat believes in liberty for all who are
fit for it. His chief aim is to remain
free himself and to leave others as free
as he is. When stalwart Republican,
ism. with no conscience of its own, at
tempts to take charge of the con-
sciences of others, it is Bourbonism
that thwarts it. When the Republican
stalwart undertakes to subvert the free
institutions of the BOurbons of a cent
ury ago, it is the Bourbon of to-day
who foils him. When the stalwart
clamors for a military dictatorship to
shield knaves from the punishment of
knavery. it is the Bourbon sentiment
of the country which brushes him. 1t
is the Bourbon who meets him at every
turn, and FOR all his cunning. for all his
thousand shifts, the Bourbon who beats
him at every turn. This enrages him
the more because he can not under
stand it, feeling himself. as he does,
UNNECESSARILY superior to all that has
not the characteristics of involution and
1t is useless to try to ex-
plain it to him, or to attempt to make
him see that there are ways higher and
nobler than his ways. He counts
nothing worth that does not pay, and
having no other standard than his own
he can apply no other. To present
others to him is idle, for he returns to |
his Stalwartism as the dog returns to
his vomit. The country will never be
free from him, for while the world |
lasts there will be a supply of knayes
and tricksters to keep Stalwartlsm
alive. And it is comforting belief |
that while the Stalwart is IN the world |
The Bourbon will also remain to put |
him to confusion.
When every thing in Rome was for
sale there remained the Bourbon
Metullus, whose virtue money could
not buy. When Republican Stalwart-
SIN offered every thing at auction in
he United States, Bourbonism alone
could neither be bought nor sold. 1t
saved this country. 1t will preserve it.
st Louis Republican.
DIIPI IL ODIMION